Adapter for transmission jack



June 10, 1958 G. v. JOHNSEN 2,838,273

ADAPTER FOR TRANSMISSION JACK Filed June 28, 1954 as 32 a1 58 1 I l T 'l U (I I 32 1 INVENTOR. 4 Games: I! JIOHNSEN l 7 fitongga Unite ADAPTER FQR TRANSMISSION JACK Application June as, 1954, Serial No. 439,727

Claims. (Cl. 254-134 The present invention relates to a clamping assembly and more particularly to a clamping assembly for use in combination with a transmission jack and which can be easily and readily adjusted to fit for gripping purposes a number of different sizes and makes of transmission housings.

In prior practice it has been necessary to provide an adapter plate for use with a transmission jack specifically designed for attachment to a specific size and make transmission. For instance, an adapter plate which can be securely attached to a Chevrolet transmission housing of a particular model would not necessarily be. able to be attached to a Ford transmission housing, and as a result the usefulness of the transmission jack was dependent upon a rather large inventory of adapter plates, each plate being specifically designed for convenient attachment to a specific size and make transmission. This arrangement, besides involving a substantial investment in adapter plates, is burdensome and time-consuming.

A primary object of the present invention therefore is to provide an improved clamping assembly for use in combination with a transmission jack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamping assembly for use in combination with a transmission jack which is readily adjustable for attachment to many different makes and sizes of transmissions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a clamping assembly which has a plurality of clamping jaws which can be readily and quickly positioned in a plurality of spaced-apart positions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent upon perusal of the following description and accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a lifting jack shown in combination with a clamping assembly embodying the principle of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional'view taken on the line 22 of Figure l, slightly enlarged and with parts removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 slightly enlarged and with parts removed.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the clamping assembly shown in Figure l slightly enlarged and showing the individual clamping assembly elements of the clamping assembly 'in a predetermined spaced relationship.

States Patent; 0

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the A individual clamping elements in a different predetermined spaced relationship.

Referring to the drawings, a transmission jack of any conventional or suitable construction is broadly designated by the number 10 and includes the usual supporting frame 11 which is m'ovably supported by four swivel casters 12 which permit the jack to be easily moved into position while preventing tippingof the jack when carrying a load. A lifting fork 13 is swingably connected at one end to the supporting frame 11 for up-and-down swinging movement, and suitable hydraulic power trans- Patented June 10, 1958 mitting means, not visible in the drawings and forming no part of the present invention, is preferably provided for urging the lifting fork 13 to move in lifting and lowering directions. A U-shaped cradle 14 is swingably connected between the forward ends of the lifting fork 13 by means of a suitable pin 15, and a pin 16 is rotatav bly carried between the opposite ends of cradle 14. The pin 16 threadedly receives therein an adjusting bolt 17 which is also threadedly received in a pin 18. The pin 18 swingably interconnects a pair of links 19, only one of which is visible in the drawings, with a pair of links 29, and each of the links 19 is swingably received by the opposite ends of the pin 15. The links 20 are suitably swingably connected to the supporting frame 11 so as to effect swinging of cradle 14 about the axis of pin 15 upon up-and-down swinging movement of lifting fork 13 for maintaining the cradle at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal. It will be appreciated that the forward and backward tilt of cradle 14 is controlled by adjusting bolt 17 and that the cradle can be adjusted into a plurality of positions relative to the horizontal.

A side tilt adjusting bar 21 is suitably fixed to the top of cradle 14 and is provided with an upwardly extending apertured car 22 and a pair of spaced threadedly received adjusting bolts 23, the bolts 23 being effective for adjustment of side tilt, as will be more fully appreciated hereinafter.

A clamping assembly embodying the principles ofthe present invention is designated generally by the number 24. Assembly 24 comprises a plate member 25 which is preferably rectangular in shape and has fixed to the under surface thereof a. pair of spaced, downwardly depending aperture ears 26. The ears 26 are so spaced as to receive therebetween car 22 of adjusting bar 21 and a suitable bolt 27 is received in the registered apertures for attaching plate 25 to bar 21. The side tilt of plate 25 about the axis of bolt 27 is controlled by bolts 23 as previously suggested, heads 28 of each of the bolts 22 supporting the plate in horizontal or tilted position as desired and in a manner well known in the art.

As previously suggested, plate member 25 is preferably rectangular in shape and is provided with rounded corners 29 and a threaded opening 36 formed adjacent each of the corners 29. Four adjusting arms 31 are provided, each of which has formed therein a longitudinally extending slot 32, and the arms 31 are attached to plate number 25 at each of its respective corners 29 by bolts 33. Each of the bolts 33 is received by the slot of its associated arm 31 and is threadedly received in its associated opening 30 for securely locking the arm to the plate 25. of the bolts 33 being threaded out of its associated opening 30, the arms can each be positioned in pre-selected retracted, partially extended or fully extended positions relative to plate 25 and defined by the limits of slots 32 and that the arms can be angled relative to plate 25 about the axis of its associated bolt 33. A washer 34 is positioned between each of the bolts and its associated arm 31, and the arms 31 can be securely locked in their pre-selected positions by tightening associated bolt 33.

Each of the arms 31 swingably supports an upright L-shaped gripping jaw 35 which is swingable into a plurality of pre-selected positions about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of plate number 25. More specifically, each of the arms 31 has formed adjacent its outer end an opening 36 and a pin 37 is rotatably received in said opening and fixed to the associated jaw 35 adjacent the corner thereof as by welding or the like. Each of the pins 37 has a suitable head 33 formed at its other end for securely locking each of the jaws 35 in upright rotatable relationship to its respective arm 31.

It will be appreciated that upon each It will be appreciated therefore, and asshown in Figures 4 and 5, that the jaws 35 can be positioned in a plurality of angled positions relative to their associated arms 31 and that the arms lwl'can be locked in a plurality of retracted, partially extended, extended and angled positions relative toplate 25. For instance, a pair of the arms 31 may be positioned in their maximum retracted position and extend in a directionparallel to opposite sides of plate 25. In this position the respective jaws 33 can be positioned in facing relationship with respect to one another with one leg of each of said jaws being positioned in abutting relationship with a side of plate 25 or swung into the position indicated in dotted lines, Figure 4. The legs eanalso be positioned in their maximum extended position relative to plate 25 and their associated jaws 35 moved into adesired angle with respect thereto as indicated in Figure 5. The other legs of Figure 4 are shown securely locked in angled positions relative to plate 25 with a leg'of each of the associated jaws in abutting relationship to opposite sides of plate 25. The other two legs of Figure 5 are shown in their maximum retracted radially extending position with each of their associated jaws 35 pressed against the respective corner of plate 25. It will be appreciated therefore that jaws 35 can be positioned in agreat variety of spaced-apart positions and that the positions of arms 31 relative to plate 25 shown in Figures 4 and 5 are for the purpose of example only.

Some transmissions are provided with a downwardly extending boxliltc pan or the housing is formed with a downwardly extending boxiike portion. In attaching the clamping assembly to a transmission of this type, each of the jaws 35 is turned so as to receive a corner of the boxlike pan or housing portion and the arms 31 are so positioned with respect to plate 25 as to move each of the jaws 35 against each of the corners of the pan or housing portion. The arms 31 are then firmly locked in position to plate 25 and the transmission is consequently firmly held for up and down or tilting movement by the jack 19. it will be appreciated that the clamping assembly can be readily and easily adjusted for holding transmissions of this type of different sizes and makes by reason of the independent adjustment of the arms 31 and jaws 35.

Other transmissions are provided with downwardly extending grippable ridges or lugs instead of a depending pan or housing portion. For securely gripping transmissions of this type, each leg of each of the jaws 35 is notched as indicated at 39 and each of the jaws is turned so as to receive adjacent ridges or lugs in the notches. For instance, the ridges can be L-shaped and arranged in a substantially rectangular pattern. By adjustment of each of the arms 31, and by proper positioning of each of the jaws 35, the jaws can be positioned so that the apex thereof are located between the sides of each of the L-shaped ridges and the ridges are received in the notches 39 of each of the jaws. Upon firmly securing the arms 31 to plate 25, the transmission is firmly gripped for up and down or tilting movement. It will be appreciated that by reason of the independent adjustability of each of the arms 31 and jaws 35, that the clamping assembly can be firmly attached to a transmission having any combination of ridges or lugs.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangementand proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A clamping assembly for use with lifting apparatus comprising a horizontal plate member adapted to support an object to be lifted, a plurality of slotted adjusting arms positioned substantially in the plane of said plate, means for swingably and slidably securing said arms with said plate in horizontally spaced-apart relationship and for"firmly loekin'gsaidarms against movement with respect to said plate in a plurality of predetermined, retracted, partially extended, fully extended, or angled positions, and an upstanding gripping jaw carried by each of said arms adjacent its outer end and swingable about an axis substantially normal to said plane whereby to conform to the outline of, and provide lateral support for an object on said plate.

2. A clamping assembly'for use with lifting apparatus and comprising a horizontal plate member, a plurality of slotted adjusting arms, positioned substantially in the plane of said plate, means for swingably and slidably sccuring said arms with said plate in horizontally spacedapart relationship and for firmly locking said arms against movement with respect to said plate in a plurality of predetermined, retracted, partially extended, fully ex tended, or angled positions, and an L-shaped gripping jaw carried in upright position by each of said arms adjacent its outer end and swingable about an axis substantially normal to the plane of said plate whereby to conform to the lateral corners of, and laterally support an object on said plate.

3. A clamping assembly for use with lifting apparatus and comprising a horizontal plate member, a plurality of slotted adjusting arms, positioned substantially in the plane of said plate, means including a separate bolt extending through the slot in each arm and through an aperture in said plate for swingably and slidably securing said arms with said plate in horizontally spaced-apart relationship and for firmly locking said arms against movement with respect to said plate in a plurality of predetermined, retracted, partially extended, fully extended, or angled positions, and an L-shapcd gripping jaw carried in upright position by each of said arms adjacent its outer end and swingable about an axis substantially normal to the plane of said plate, the upper edge of each of said jaws having formed thereon ridge receiving notches.

4. A clamping assembly for use in combination with a transmission lifting jack for firmly gripping a transmission for up or down movement comprising a plate member, a plurality of slotted adjusting arms, bolts for securing said arm-s to said plate members in horizontally spaced-apart relation, each of said bolts being slidably received in the slot of its associated arm and threadedly received by said plate for firmly securing said arm with respect thereto in retracted, partially extended, extended or angled posi'tions, and an L-shaped gripping jaw swingably connected in upright position to each of said arms adjacent its outer end.

5. A fixture for use with a lifting jack comprising: a substantially horizontal head adapted to be secured to said jack for lifting thereby; a flat plate tiltably mounted on saidhead and adapted to support an object to be lifted; locking means to secure said plate in any one of a plurality of tilted positions with respect to said head; a plurality of fiat arms slidable against a surface of said plate and projecting outwardly from the edges thereof; clamping means to secure each of said arms to said surface at-any one of a plurality of angles and degrees of extension from the edges of said plate; and an upstanding jaw on the distal end of each arm pivotal thereon about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plate whereby to conform to the outline of, and provide lateral support for an object resting on said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,225,651 Krouse May 8, 1917 1,283,795 Kelley Nov. 5, 1918 2,368,192 Bishop et al. Jan. 30, 1945 2,448,331 Staab et al. Aug. 31, 1948 2,747,837 Turner May 29, 1956 

